"Full of the Holy Spirit"- Acts 7

In Acts 7, we read of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, who just been appointed as the deacon in the church.  In the last chapter he was described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. He would need it today as the religious leaders are furious with his speech in which he recounts the history of Israel.  If you want a nice summary of the book of Genesis from Abraham to Solomon read the beginning of chapter 7. But it doesn't end well for Stephen's after his first sermon.

The Stoning of Stephen

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

What can we learn from Stephen's stoning? 

1. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, but the leaders resisted the Holy Spirit.  This is not the first time this has been said of Stephen.  Every Christian is given the gift of the Holy Spirit but do we live in the fulness of the Holy Spirit." . In verse 51 Stephen tells the leaders that they were always stiff necked and always resisted the Holy Spirit, as their ancestors did.  It reminds us that the Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity.  

2. Stephen saw the glory of the God and where Jesus stood in heaven before he died.  The Lord gave Stephen a glimpse of where he would be going soon. He saw God's glory and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  This is one of the passages where we get the language for the Apostle's Creed when we confess, "On the third day He (Jesus) rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father, Almighty".  This reminds us of the reality of Jesus physical presence in heaven when we will meet him someday. 

3. Stephen modeled Jesus' behavior while he was being stoned.  Jesus said to the Father, "Into your hands I commend my Spirit". Stephen said, "Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit."  Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Stephen said, "Lord, do not hold this sin against him."  Stephen died courageously preaching the gospel and forgiving those who killed him.  

What was the key to Stephen's witness? He was full of the Spirit. Anybody need a refill? We will need it to live a life of courageously following Jesus in this life.  

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